Sanda Aldass (Arabic: ساندا الدس; born 26 June 1990) is a judoka from Syria who competed at the 2020 Olympic Games as part of the IOC Refugee Team.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 June 1990[1] Damascus, Syria |
| Occupation | Judoka |
| Sport | |
| Country | Refugee Olympic Team |
| Sport | Judo |
| Weight class | –57 kg |
Biography
editAldass fled Damascus in her homeland, Syria, in 2015, having previously been a member of Syria’s national judo team.[2][3]
After arriving in the Netherlands, she spent six months in a refugee camp without her family. She has credited her desire to keep fit and training for judo helped her with the mental health difficulties that came from her circumstances.[4][5]
She was eventually reunited with her son and her husband, Fadi Darwish, who is also her judo coach, and the family settled in Almere, Netherlands.[6] They had two more children, and her husband's training credentials were successfully recognised in the Netherlands.[2][3]
In 2019, Aldass joined the International Judo Federation Support Program, through which she took part in the Grand Slam events.[6][2] Aldass competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in the Women's 57 kg and the Mixed team events. In the individual event she faced Marica Perisic from Serbia.[6][7]
Personal life
editMarried to Fadi Darwish, she is a mother of three.[8][3] She is the cousin of fellow judoka Muna Dahouk.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Sanda Aldass". Judo Inside. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Meet Sanda Aldass: the Syrian Judoka going for gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics". Newarab. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Pavitt, Michael (11 June 2020). "Judoka Aldass aiming to compete at Tokyo 2020 as part of refugee team". Inside the Games. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Alomar, Dano. "Sanda Aldass, the Syrian mother of three turned Judoka Olympian at Tokyo 2020". Esquireme.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Goh, ZK (1 March 2021). "Introducing Sanda Aldass, the Olympic hopeful refugee judoka juggling sport and motherhood". Olympics.com.
- ^ a b c Rainbird, Daniel (26 July 2021). "Refugee's inspiring journey culminates with Olympic spot in judo". ca.sports. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Bantock, Jack (2 August 2021). "TOKYO 2020: "AN AMAZING, MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCE" - SANDA ALDASS PUTS WORDS TO INSPIRING OLYMPIC DEBUT WITH REFUGEE TEAM". Eurosport. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "'MY KIDS TOLD ME TO ENJOY IT' REFUGEE JUDO ATHLETE SANDA ALDASS ON COMPETING AT THE GAMES". Eurosport. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "The separated refugees brought back together by judo". BBC News. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2024.